# Padre Irene — El Filibusterismo character guide

> Padre Irene in El Filibusterismo by José Rizal.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Irene, the humbler Padre Irene

**First appearance:** 0010-viii-merry-christmas

## Who they are

A friar who moves between sacristy and salon, smiling, advising, and quietly arranging outcomes to suit the order he serves.

## Relationships

### [Isagani](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_filibusterismo_se/characters/isagani)

_rivalry_

Isagani clashes with Padre Irene over educational reforms and the control of the students' academy.

### [Simoun](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_filibusterismo_se/characters/simoun)

_professional_

Padre Irene collaborates with Simoun in political and financial schemes, though their alliance is one of convenience.

### [Basilio](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_filibusterismo_se/characters/basilio)

_professional_

Basilio interacts with Padre Irene as a medical student and through the academy's affairs, often with tension.

### [Don Custodio](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_filibusterismo_se/characters/don_custodio)

_professional_

Don Custodio and Padre Irene are colleagues in the colonial administration, often scheming together.

### [Plácido Penitente](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_filibusterismo_se/characters/placido_penitente)

_professional_

Padre Irene interacts with Plácido as a priest and school authority, often with condescension.

### [Isagani](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_filibusterismo_se/characters/isagani)

_rivalry_

Isagani clashes with Padre Irene over educational reforms and the control of the students' academy.

### [Simoun](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_filibusterismo_se/characters/simoun)

_professional_

Padre Irene collaborates with Simoun in political and financial schemes, though their alliance is one of convenience.

### [Basilio](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_filibusterismo_se/characters/basilio)

_professional_

Basilio interacts with Padre Irene as a medical student and through the academy's affairs, often with tension.

### [Basilio](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_filibusterismo_se/characters/basilio)

_professional_

Basilio interacts with Padre Irene as a medical student and through the academy's affairs, often with tension.

### [Isagani](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_filibusterismo_se/characters/isagani)

_rivalry_

Isagani clashes with Padre Irene over educational reforms and the control of the students' academy.

### [Plácido Penitente](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_filibusterismo_se/characters/placido_penitente)

_professional_

Padre Irene interacts with Plácido as a priest and school authority, often with condescension.

### [Simoun](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_filibusterismo_se/characters/simoun)

_professional_

Padre Irene collaborates with Simoun in political and financial schemes, though their alliance is one of convenience.

## In the story

### [I: On the Upper Deck](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_filibusterismo_se/chapters/i-on-the-upper-deck)

A canon with a rubicund face and Jewish nose, he nods approval at Padre Salví's words.

### [Los Baños](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_filibusterismo_se/chapters/xi-los-ba-os)

Plays cards with the Captain-General and supports the students' petition, recommending Makaraig to the General.

### [In the House of the Students](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_filibusterismo_se/chapters/xiv-in-the-house-of-the-students)

Mentioned as a supporter who helped refer the petition to Don Custodio and the Superior Commission of Primary Instruction.

### [Legerdemain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_filibusterismo_se/chapters/xviii-legerdemain)

Present at the séance, he tries to rationalize Padre Salví's collapse as illness from soup.

### [A Corpse](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_filibusterismo_se/chapters/xxiii-a-corpse)

Visits Capitan Tiago and encourages Basilio to be strict with the treatment; delivers a letter from Padre Salví about María Clara's illness.

### [XXVIII: Tatakut](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_filibusterismo_se/chapters/xxviii-tatakut)

Visits Capitan Tiago, recounting the General's council and advocating moderation; his tale triggers Tiago's death.

### [Exit Capitan Tiago](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_filibusterismo_se/chapters/xxix-exit-capitan-tiago)

Serves as executor, dictates the will, restores Basilio's legacy, and arranges the lavish funeral.

### [The Fiesta](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_filibusterismo_se/chapters/xxxv-the-fiesta)

Arrives at the fiesta with Padre Salví; remarks to Ben-Zayb that the sun is setting for the Captain-General.

### [Ben-Zayb's Afflictions](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_filibusterismo_se/chapters/xxxvi-ben-zayb-s-afflictions)

Mentioned in Ben-Zayb's article as diving under the table during the assault.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_filibusterismo_se/characters/padre_irene
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_filibusterismo_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/el_filibusterismo_se/characters